Tropical Depression Ophelia forecast to grow into a hurricane

no threat to US

(National Hurricane Center )

September 28, 2011|By Ken Kaye, Sun Sentinel

She’s back.

After being declared dead on Sunday, Tropical Storm Ophelia came back to life on Tuesday afternoon as a tropical depression. Within five days, it is forecast to intensify into an 85-mph hurricane. Ophelia is expected to reach tropical storm strength Wednesday.

Florida and the rest of the U.S. east coast have little to worry about. The projected path keeps the system well out to sea as it aims generally north.

At 5 a.m. Wednesday, Ophelia was in the Atlantic about 205 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, crawling northwest at 3 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph.

Ophelia initially grew into a tropical storm on Sept. 20 and fell apart five days later, the result of strong wind shear. The system is expected to produce heavy rains over the Leeward Islands through Wednesday.

After moving away from the islands, it is forecast to remain well east of the Bahamas and steadily strengthen. By Friday, Ophelia is predicted to be about 800 miles due east of Miami as a minimal hurricane.

From there, it is projected to curve gently northeast out to sea, remaining east of Bermuda. However, it could draw close enough to the small island nation to deliver rough weather.

Tropical Storm Philippe, meanwhile, was in the Atlantic about 930 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands, moving northwest at 12 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph. It is not expected to threaten land.